Welcome to the Yorkshire Branch of The Western Front Association.
We meet on Saturdays at 2.00pm
Venue
The branch venue for our monthly meetings is easy to find, being Manor Academy, Millfield Lane at Nether Poppleton. The postcode (for Sat Nav purposes) is YO26 6PA.
If using 'What Three Words' the location is 'reader.rust.raves'
Millfield Lane can be accessed off the A1237 (York's northern ring road).
Above: A street view of the venue, showing the ample (free) car parking that is available.
See map in the lower left area of this page for the location of our venue.
We don't make any charge but request a donation on the door of a modest £5 which includes refreshments.
Car Parking
There is a large free car park on site. In the unlikely event that the car park is full, there is plenty of free off-street parking immediately opposite the school.
Buses
The number 10 bus (out of York City Centre) runs every half hour and stops directly outside the school.
Refreshments
After the presentation, but before the Q&A session with the speaker, we have a break with refreshments available.
Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome.
Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.
The 2025 speaker programme is shown below.
No apology is made for the emphasis on operational history in the BEF in France and Flanders, which is the most popular type of talk. However, we do have a good selection of other presentations as well, covering social history, other theatres and naval operations.
As ever we have managed to book some highly respected and well known speakers as well as some speakers who are new to the branch.
We look forward to welcoming you to our branch meetings.
Upcoming Branch Events
The Battle of Verdun by Christina Holstein
What was the thinking behind the German offensive of February 1916 and why was Verdun chosen? A thundering opening bombardment brought early success but French determination and sheer dogged refusal to give up meant that the German advance was soon measured in metres. By midsummer the offensive was a lost cause but the French hit back and fighti...
Event Details
The Law of unintended consequences: The Assassination of Franz-Ferdinand by Ross Beadle
How the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne came to be assassinated in Sarajevo was a chapter of accidents. It began with the Congress of Berlin in 1878 and ended when the owner of the car Franz-Ferdinand was travelling in opted to stand guard on the running board on the opposite side of the vehicle from the archduke, so leaving him exposed to h...
Event Details
'Defense de Fumer': How a company of French reservists changed the course of the War by Steve Marsdin
Starting with an introduction in to how the French army was organised at the outbreak of war, particularly with regards to its use of reserves, this talk by Steve Marsdin will highlight one particular action in August 1914 that runs contrary to our normal perceptions of the relative performance of the French and German armies in those early enc...
Event Details